Arroyo frees Claudio Teehankee Jr., Rolito Go likely next for pardon

After serving 13 years, convicted killer Claudio Teehankee Jr., son of the late former Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr and brother of former Justice undersecretary Manuel Teehankee was ordered released from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City Friday last week by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the Department of Justice, Bureau of Corrections and Board of Pardon and Parole “carefully studied” the commutation of the sentence for two to three years.

Teehankee was found guilty in 1995 for murdering Maureen Hultman and her friend Roland John Chapman in Dasmariñas Village in Makati. A third victim, Jussi Leino, was wounded in the attack.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez said on Tuesday that Rolito Go who was found guilty of killing Eldon Maguan in 1991 during a traffic altercation, is likely to be granted presidential pardon soon.

He added that the Maguan family had accepted the civil damages the court ordered Go to pay them.